Book Beat book haul for YallFEST! Previewing what’s ahead for 2017!

It’s time for my YallFEST book haul report! I was lucky enough to score a bunch of books on my Highly Anticipated 2017 list. And there was much rejoicing!

Here’s a look at my booty which also provides some great suggestions for books to pre-order for that special someone on your holiday shopping list!

And the story continues…

windwitchWindwitch by Susan Dennard

Release date: January 10

This is the second book in The Witchlands series which began with Truthwitch. In this fantasy series, empires are competing for power and witches (with differing abilities) may tip the balance of power.

I really enjoyed Truthwitch for its great world-building, interesting characters, complicated politics and lots of action. I can’t wait to read Windwitch which will be Merik’s story.

 

 

 

wayfarerWayfarer by Alexandra Bracken

Release date: January 3

Wayfarer is the conclusion to the story that began with Passenger. This series is about time travel, romance and lots of really cool historic locations.

Passenger took quite some time to build the story before things took off so I’m hoping Wayfarer will hit the ground running. (Since Passenger ended with a cliff-hanger, I’m pretty sure it will!) Wayfarer will focus on Etta’s attempt to protect the Timeline from the rival factions and find Nicholas again.

 

 

Familiar names

Goodbyegoodbye-days Days by Jeff Zentner

Release date: March 7

This was my most-wanted book of the trip! I loved Jeff Zentner’s debut, The Serpent King, so grabbing a copy of Goodbye Days was a no-brainer. He’s amazing at setting up characters in a richly-drawn setting.

The blurb indicates Goodbye Days is about grief and guilt so I know I’m in for another good cry. I’ll be stocking up on tissues for this one!

 

 

 

windfallWindfall by Jennifer E Smith

Release date: May 2

I haven’t read a book by Jennifer E Smith yet, but she wrote one of my favorite short stories in the Summer Days & Summer Nights anthology. I look forward to reading more from her so I was excited to nab a copy of Windfall.

This is a contemporary story of two best friends who are on the cusp of becoming more than friends when one of them wins a huge lottery jackpot. Life changes drastically and so does their relationship.

 

 

by-your-sideBy Your Side by Kasie West

Release date: January 31

How about a cute contemporary romance? Girl meets the boy she’s least likely to fall while they are trapped in a library for the weekend.

I’ll confess I already read this one since I needed to read something contemporary after a couple of big fantasy books. By Your Side is cute and emotional and a breezy read. A perfect afternoon escape.

 

 

given-to-the-sea

Given to the Sea by Mindy McGinnis

Release date: April 11

Award-winning author, Mindy McGinnis’ latest is Given to the Sea. After writing a Gothic and contemporary book, she switches genres again and has a fantasy.

This is a fantasy about a girl who’s destined to be sacrificed to the sea after she fulfills her duty of providing an heir. You think that destiny sucks? So does Khosa. Yeah, I think a whole mess of stuff is about to happen.

 

 

frogkisserFrogkisser! by Garth Nix

Release date: February 28

This book is described as a screwball, fractured fairy tale. (Hence the ! in the title!) I’m guessing we could all use a good laugh in the coming year so this tale of a curse-breaking princess on the run with a talking dog and a boy trapped in the body of a newt seems like just the break we’ll all need!

(Plus bonus points for the funnest tie-in swag at YallFEST — Frogkisser! lip balm)

 

 

 

New Voices

american-street

American Street by Ibi Zoboi

Release date: February 14

The buzz is starting to pick up for this tale of a Haitian refugee. Fabiola’s family leaves Haiti, but she’s left alone after immigration detains her mother. Fabiola will have to find a way to adjust to life in a new world in pursuit of that elusive American Dream.

 

 

 

 

takedownThe Takedown by Corrie Wang

Release date: April 11

I haven’t heard much about this book or debut author, but I’m always curious about stories by Asian writers and this is from the new Freefrom line of books.

Kyla Cheng is that girl that seems to have it all, until someone posts a fake video of her that goes viral. Now she has to figure out who hacked her in order to clear her name and take back her future.

 

 

hate-u-giveThe Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Release date: February 28

I’ve heard nothing but superlatives to describe this book so I can’t wait to dive in. The buzz on this debut novel is so big, they moved up the publishing date and there’s a film in the works with Amandla Stenberg (Rue from The Hunger Games) attached to star.

The Hate U Give is the story of Starr, a girl who lives in a poor neighborhood and attends a fancy prep school. She is forced into the national spotlight when she’s the only witness to an unarmed police shooting where her best friend is killed.

 

 

Lots of good stuff for 2017! Thanks to First in Line (Goodbye Days, Windfall), Epic Reads (By Your Side, American Street, The Hate U Give), Disney Hyperion (Wayfarer, The Takedown), Penguin Teen (Given to the Sea) Fierce Reads (Windwitch) and I Read YA (Frogkisser!) for all the fantastic books and fun!

 

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